The Wasp, 1913 · page 234 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 234: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be from a serialized fictional narrative rather than a political cartoon. It's chapter XIII of a story about Alexander Burnham, a character on the island of Nevis who is suffering acute embarrassment over a family scandal involving his brother James (apparently a "cheat and a thief"). The passage uses the metaphor of a "skeleton in the closet"—a family secret—that has been publicly exposed. Burnham's shame is compounded by his pride; knowing others know his family's disgrace makes it unbearable. His paranoia leads him to obsessively interpret the behavior of those around him, searching for confirmation that everyone has learned of the scandal. The reference to "Elizabeth Nash" at the passage's end suggests romantic subplot elements. This appears to be a serialized novel published in *The Wasp*, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century, focusing on social embarrassment and family reputation rather than political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
XIII LEXANDER BURNHAM kept away from A Government House for several days. Shame made him bitter and suspicious. It was hard enough, he reflected, to know himself that James was a cheat and a thief; but to have others know it made it seem a hundred times more shame- ful and more hard to bear. This is where he suffered for his acute family pride. A skeleton in the closet is a depressing pos- session; but when the door of the closet has been opened to the public gaze the situation becomes worse than depressing. Alexander felt that the door of the Burnham skeleton-closet now stood open to the astonished and delighted gaze of the public of Nevis. Being convinced of this fact, he spent all his leisure in looking for proof of it—a foolish and illogical proceeding. He weighed and questioned every word and glance of his messmates and of the gentlemen ashore. He thought of Elizabeth Nash 229 COMCDOOKS.com